Trundlin'along

So , we did what we needed to do in Stone and decided to move a bit further along the canal.It’s five years since we did this one, and it is so lovely.

Coming to Meaford and its locks, we met Rob the Lock – 07773700587.

He has his bike and although he lives on the Caldon canal, he spends most of his days helping anyone who requires help with the locks. I think he does well with the solo boaters. He works the large and heavy Stoke locks, and all those down to Stone. He helps on “Heartbreak Hills” locks. and he will also go over to Manchester. He went that way to help a solo boater and he took his tent so that he could sleep near the boat but , of course, the boater would not hear of that, and he spent the night on the boat. He is a lovley lad, very engaging, and so full of Joire de vivre ? is that correct ? So I said I would mention him on the blog and give out his phone number, in case anyone does required his services. He is also on Twitter ( whats that ???) as Rob the Lock. And no, he doesn’t charge, but I guess if you have his help, you may want to give him a small gift. Smashing young man.

We have “ done “ another window with its new fitments.

We also met Tumbleweed and crew , Bill and Kath Bennett, at STONE. This is one of Trundles big sisters. Tumbleweed is 65foot and is their permanent home. They are also licenced traders on the canal now. Kath makes curtains. It was nice to meet and exchange ideas and have a chat with them

Quite a few buzzards being seen off by crows and magpies.

Stoke locks are NOT heavy ( whoever said they were is a wimp !), but they are deep.

Rob the Lock came cycling along, waving to us in the rain, and as it happend, he helped us on the last Stoke locks and into the first locks of the Caldon,as he lives down here anyway. Couldn't really get out of it, and as he thought I was a week and feeble woman, who am I to put him right if he is going to do the work. As it was, I would have had a job with the paddles in the middle of the staircase. Actually, I could not even lift them a half inch. So good on you, Rob. Gave him some groats to spend in Derby on saturday, where he is going to meet some friends. I have encouraged him to get some waterproof trousers, but as it is he will spend his scheckels on pop n crips, no doubt

So now at Milton, and a nice lesurely time down to Froghall, hopefully. I wonder if they have frogs there ???